Senior Design Director

- Based in US, Canada, or Dongguan (Guangdong, China) — with significant time required in the Dongguan design studio during peak development season.
- International travel required (trade shows, client/buyer presentations, factory visits).

About the Role
We are seeking a senior design leader to own the creative and commercial direction of our seasonal, holiday, and home décor product lines for the US and Canada markets. This is a dual-mandate role. First and foremost, you set the trend direction, lead buyer-facing presentations, and carry the design relationship with our major retail clients — you are the design voice in the room with the buyer. On top of that, you lead our China-side design studio and crafts team in Dongguan, turning that direction into production-ready, commercially viable product.

You will work as a senior peer to our VP of Design and Trends, giving the company genuine depth and continuity in design leadership rather than reliance on any single person.

What You'll Do
Trend, Client & Buyer Direction (primary focus)
• Own the seasonal and year-round trend direction for US and Canada mass-retail — read the market early and translate emerging trends into commercial, on-price assortments.
• Lead client and buyer-facing presentations: be the design voice in line reviews, seasonal presentations, and at trade shows.
• Build and own relationships with key retail buyers and merchandising teams — understand each account's aesthetic, price tier, and what wins on their shelf.
• Direct the creative vision across seasonal (Christmas, Halloween, Easter) and year-round home & garden lines.
• Partner with merchandising and sourcing to convert client briefs and retail trends into compelling, sell-through-driven product assortments.
• Drive original product development — from trend research and concept through to production-ready specifications.

China Studio & Execution Lead
• Lead and develop the in-house Dongguan design studio and crafts team — industrial designers, graphic artists, sculptors, and crafts specialists.
• Oversee crafts-team operations: sample development, material experimentation, and rapid prototyping.
• Collaborate with Product Managers and sourcing to ensure designs are optimized for manufacturing (resin, ceramics, metal, fabric, wood, glass, PVC, electronics/lighting).
• Build and maintain the product showroom as a “Category Gallery” experience for international client presentations and POG room setups.
• Manage the company's design IP portfolio — ensure all products are original or properly licensed, with no direct market copying.
• Evaluate and integrate new materials, finishes, and manufacturing techniques to keep the product line competitive.

What You Bring
Core — Trend, Buyer & Relationship
• 15+ years in product design, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role (Director or VP level).
• Proven trend and design-direction judgment for US/Canada seasonal and home décor — a track record of calling what sells at mass retail.
• Direct, client-facing experience with major retail buyers — you have led presentations and owned the design relationship, not just supported it.
• Strong presentation skills — comfortable in front of C-level executives, major retail buyers, and at trade exhibitions.
• Deep experience in seasonal/holiday décor, home décor, giftware, or consumer products.
• Familiarity with major retail channels (mass, specialty, e-commerce) and their merchandising requirements.

Plus — Studio & Manufacturing Leadership
• Proven track record managing a design studio or creative team of 10+ people.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes — resin molding, ceramics, metalwork, fabric/textile, woodworking, lighting/electronics, glass. You know what's feasible on a production line, not just on paper.
• Experience working directly with Chinese factories — factory visits, production-line collaboration, material sourcing.
• Ability to bridge Western retail aesthetics with Chinese manufacturing capabilities.
• Experience with IP protection and original product development in a China-based manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in English; Mandarin Chinese is a strong plus.

Preferred / Good Add-On
• Familiar with the Mexico market.
• Background in or exposure to outdoor/garden products, animatronics, or lighted décor.
• Experience building out off-season / non-holiday product lines (home, garden, everyday décor).
• Knowledge of compliance and quality standards for US/EU consumer products (CPSIA, EN71, etc.).
• Experience with 12–18 month product development cycles typical of seasonal retail.
• Existing network within the Dongguan / Pearl River Delta manufacturing ecosystem.

Location & Travel
Based in the US, Canada, or Dongguan, with significant time required on-site at the Dongguan design studio and crafts team during peak development season. International travel required for trade shows, client presentations, and factory visits.